Most Major Food Allergen Recalls Caused by Preventable Labeling Errors, Study Finds
The majority of food allergen recalls are caused by preventable labeling errors, according to a recent analysis of recall data for U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)–regulated products. Additionally, milk remains the top major food allergen implicated in major food allergen recalls.
The study included recall data for fiscal years 2013–2019, during which time there were 1,471 food allergen and gluten recalls. The data was collected from FDA’s Recall Enterprise System (RES). Every recall recorded in RES requires a health hazard evaluation (HHE) and recall classification (Classes I, II, and III) to indicate the relative degree of health hazard presented by the product being recalled. Class I recalls involve a product that poses reasonable probability of serious adverse health consequences or death; Class II recalls pose a remote probability of serious or temporary adverse health consequences; and Class III recalls are not likely to cause adverse health consequences.